Grain-heating device



Nov. 24, 1925. 1,562,790

v s. A. ROCKBURG GRAIN HEATING DEVICE Filed May 12. 1924 mmvron ATTORNEY-5',

Patented Nov. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. ROCKBURG, OE MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO JOHNI. KLEIS'I, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONQIN, AND ONE-THIRD TO PETER PRO- VOST, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

GRAIN-HEATING DEVICE.

Application filed May 12, 1924. Serial No. 712,746.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. ROGKBURG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee,'county of Milwaukee, and State of WVisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Grain-Heating Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in grain heating devices, such as may be used for the practice of the method disclosed in Patent No. 1,269,741, issued to Peter Provost on a method for heating grain, June 18, 1918.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide means for controlling the flow of grain through a multiplicity of channels in a device of this character. It will be understood that the heat throughout the interior of the device should be substantially uniform, and that in order that the grain may be evenly treated it is very desirable that the length of time required for the passage of grain through each channel of the device shall be substantially identical with the length of time required for the passage of material through every other similar channel. It has heretofore been difficult to obtain the desired uniformity, both in the heat of the drum and in the heat imparted to different streams of grain passing therethrough, and the present invention contemplates means whereby very exact results are obtainable.

iVhile ordinarily no air circulation is needed or desired, it is a further object of this invention to provide for the control of moisture within the container by arranging for the possibility of a heat induced air circulation therethrough, and providing for the control of such circulation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide improved means for agitating the grain during its progress through the va rious internal channels of the device, whereby there will occur a continual change in the surfaces of the grain kernels which are presented to the heated walls of the channel.

This is somewhat diificult of accomplishment because of the tendency of the grain to wedge. A spiral course for the grain is desirable but if ordinary means is used for directing the grain on such a course stoppage results. It is my object to provide for suitable control means while overcoming the above stated objection.

Further objects consist in the provision of a construction permitting of the inspection of the grain and ascertainment of its temperatures, and in the provision of a par ticular arrangement of battle plates and supports therefor, whereby the uniform heat treatment of grain discharged through each passage is assured.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation in partial vertical axial section of a device embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail View on an enlarged scale and in vertical section of a modified pipe construction with a special grain agitating device suspended therein.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

From some source of steam supply (not shown) I lead steam alternatively through either of two manifolds to a drum within which the grain is heated. Steam and condensate are exhausted from the drum by means of a return pipe. Preferably the arrangement is that indicated in the drawings, and since the upper and lower steam manifolds are identical only one will be described in detail.

The supply. pipe 10 from the source of steam supply has two symmetrical branches 10 each of which is again sub-divided into pipes 10 The pipes 10 enter the drum at uniformly spaced 90 intervals about its circumference. The pipes 10 and 10 comprise a manifold which delivers steam evenly to all parts of the drum and permits of a uniform and balanced expansion of steam so that jetting is avoided. I have found that where this precaution, of utilizing a manifold such as is indicated is not adopted, and where the steam is delivered directly to the drum througha single opening, it enters with such force and velocity as to burn away the tubes or pipes within the drum, which are hereinafter to be described. Nhere the manifold above disclosed-is employed-no such burning away occurs and temperatures are uniform throughout the drum.

The upper manifold preferably enters the drum substantially intermediate,itsends, as,

indicated in Figure 1. The outlet pipe 11 isclOsely adj acentthe bottom of the drum, and inasmuch asthe heat tends'to rise within drum,- l2 the temperature may be controlled in; the. first;instance by delivering; steam to the:drunrthrougheither the upper or lower manifold, or both:

The-drum 12 is closed at its upper end by a head 13 and at its lower-end by ahead 14. The heads 13 and 14: are tiedtogether by means of concentricserlesof pipes, asindicatedin Figure 2 ofthe drawings. Pipes 15, nearestthe center ofthe dr m,may serve merelyas .tie'rodslto preventthe bulging of heads 13 and 1 Lv andneednot be used as grainuconveyingipassages. Pipes 16, 17, and 18, however, comprising thev three outer annular series are, in the present embodiment of this invention, used as conduits for grain, whereby to'subjectnthe grain to the influence of the heat given off by steam within the drum.-

The central portion of drum head 13 iscovered with an inverted; conical cap whereby grain is diverted to the pipesilG, 17', and '18. Although it isnot'necessary for the successful operat-ionof the device, the cap 20 may be supplied with an outletrpipc 21 controlled by-adamper 22,- such pipe beingada-pted -to permit heated air to: escape to an extent controlled'by the damper opening.

Conforming in itsgreatestgdiameter to the periphery of drum head 13 is. an inverted conical hood.;24eto which the grain is sup-v plied throughpipe 25; Thishood confines the incomingstreanr of grain to the area of head 13 and,- together with the similarly shaped cap. 20 comprises a passage of'in creasing capacity. Through this passage the grain is directed to the individual pipes 16, 17, and 18 in the outer annular series of pipes which have, been referred toabove. The air exhaustjpipe 21,- if used, penetrates the passagebet-ween thewalls20 and 24- but is ofsufiiciently small diameter so asnotsto impede the flow of grain .therethrougl'r.

The pipes 16, 17, and; 18, in which the grain is subjected to heat, are preferably so formed as to prevent any given kernels or grains from remaining in too constant contact with the walls of the pipes. To this end the walls of the pipes may be struck, or otherwise indented, to form inwardly projecting protuberances 26, such as are adapted to maintain theigrain in agitation. These protuberances are preferably not round in elevation but are elongated transversely of the tube. They are made. as bystrikingthe tube with a cold chisel or like. tool, having a relatively sharp transverselyextendingedge. The protuberances are so located in staggered relationupon opposite sides of the tube that wherever there is a protuberance upon one side no protuberance will be found diametrically opposite. In this way any such constriction of thetub'e-as *might produce a stoppage is avoided- Usable either with or without tubes formed as above indicated isacentra-lwire formedat its-upperendwith a loop 30 to engage theupper endof'the-tube. The wire ispro idedat intervals w-ith-atseries'of bends. comprising lateralprojections, and the bends are so made-asio project laterally ineach offour directions and separated at In thisway asuccession of obstructions are placed in thepath of thegrain, and these obstructions are so arranged as to lie in a helical path. Such a device. has been found to operate successfully in .producingthe desired grain movement without stoppage whereas a helically twisted wire: has beenfound to resultiin wedgi-ngt Either the indentations 26i in the pipe orth'ecentral bafiie wire wit-hitslaterally projecting portions, asindicatedin Figure i, may be used alternatively or together. Of course, where both these features are employed together, the a gitation of the grain, and also its retardation, willbe greater than where either feature is employed individually.

Beneath the drum the grain .is discharged" from pipes 16, 17, and 18in=a large number of streamswhich, due to the arrangement of the pipes as aforesaid, are disposed in annular: concentric series. If these streams were merely collected in a, single funnel and led to a discharge pipe, the result wouldbe that those conduits discharging nearest the center of the funnel would have a rate of flow vastly greaterthan those conduits of the outer ammlar series. In order :to' equalize I the flow of: grain through all of the conduits the series of ba l'lies hereinaft'erto be described has been devised;

Innnediately abovexthe outlet or discharge pipe 31'is a large funnel I need not be physically connected with the remainder of the device. Discharging into funnel 32 and immediately thereabove is a v similar funnel 33"which is removably sup-- ported from the drum 12. The supporting This funnel til) means preferably includes the annular bent plates 34: connected with the funnel and provided with lateral opening slots 35 which receive suitable bolts 36 projecting radially from the drum. loosened, funnel 33 may be rotated slightly to a. position for its release downuuirdly away from the drum.

In funnel 33 is a frusto-conical battle ll) having a. cyliudrically formed upper portion ll. This bafile extends to a point closely adjacent the head 1% of the heating drum whereby to prevent any grain issuing from pipes 16, 17, and 18 from finding; its way down the center of the funnel. The trusteconical battle may be carried directly lrom the wall of the funnel through the medium of interposed bracket members 4-2. of l.- shaped cross section. Tl ese bracket members may be secured to the wall of the fun nel by welding or riveting in such a way that their upturned portions d2 will contact i'narginally with the lower periphery of battle 3 .0.

Bracket elements 44, similar to brackets 42, may be utilized to carry from baille ll) an intermediate battle Battle 45 comprises an annular element of triangular cross section. Its peak 46 is positioned in'imediately beneath each pipe 17 of the central annular series. The arrangement is such that grain issuing from each pipe 18 will contact with the wall of the funnel 33 and will be directed inwardly. Grain issuing from each pipe 16 will contact with the wall of ballle (t and will be directed outwardly. The stream of grain issuing from each pipe 1? will be divided and a portion thereof will be diverted outwardly to mingle with grain flowing); from pipe 18, whereas another portion thereof will be diverted inwardly to mingle with grain flowing from pipe 16. All of the grain must now pass between the outer periphery of battle 40 and the wall of funnel 33. Obviously, any number of annular rows of grain delivery pipes similar to those indicated at 16, 17, and 18 may be employed successfully it a. corresponding number of battle elen'ients is arranged after the principle stated above to ensure that grain issuing from each such row of pipes will have the same distance of travel and the same resistance to movement as the grain issuing;- from each other pipe.

From the annular space provided between the parts above mentioned the grain issues in a single annular stream. By way of furthcr ensuring unitormity ot flow, an addi tional battle or battles may be provided as indicated at as, such batlie being adjustably supported from funnel 33 by bolts 4-9 extending: through the wall of tunnel 83 and enough the suitably apertured extremity of bracket 52. Above and below the bracket each such bolt is provided with nuts er When the nuts 37 are whereby it may be adjusted vertically with reference to the bracket 52. The bolts a9 and brackets 52 will be provided in such numbers as are necessary for the support of cone 48 and for its convenient adjustment. It has been found that occasionally conditions are such that grain flow will take place more rapidly through the pipes on one side of the drum than through the pipes on the other side To equalize such How an adjustment of the cone shaped battle 48 is made, whereby the margin of the battle is brought closer or farther from the wall or funnel to restrict or enlarge the opening for grain flow.

For the purpose of controlling delivery from funnel 33.1 provide a valve 50 which comprises an inverted cone carried by L- shaped rods 51. Arms of bracket 52 project laterally from tunnel 33 and are apertured to receive the upright portions of rods 51, said rods are preferably threaded and carry nuts 53 which rest upon arms 52 to support the cone alve O adjustably with reference to the outlet of tunnel 33. Grain issuing from the outlet of tunnel 33 will flow outwardly into :t'unnel 32 in substantially the manner indicated in broken lines. It will there be exposed, and a thern'iometer imbedded in the stream of the grain issuing from tunnel 33 will accurately indicate the temperature of said grain. This temperature may be varied in the manner indicated above.

l uhen the grain is heated it may give oti moisture,either the natural. moisture of the grain or moisture which has been added to it, as in the practice of the method disclosed in the Letters Patent issued to Peter Provost above identified. If it is desired to dry grain in its passage through the machine herein disclosed, such moisture can be removed by opening damper 22 in pipe 21., thereby permitting the heated air from the interior otbatlle 4:0 to rise upwardly through pipes to the interior of cone and thence outwardly through pipe 21. Obviously, such air will carry with it moisture given off by the grain. If, on the other hand, it is desired to maintain the grain in the condition in which it is received, the damper 22 can be closed and circulation in pipe 21 may thereby be impeded to any desired extent or may be wholly stopped. It there is no air circulation through the interior of the de vice no moisture can escape therefrom other than that which is carried by the grain. @hviously the damper 22 will also serve to some degree to regulate the temperature at cap 20, since, it a slight circulation of air is permitted, cap 20 will rapidly become the hottest part of the drum.

It will readily be seen fron'i'the foregoing description of the series of batlles within tunnel 33 that means has been provided tor equalizing the flow of grain through the several passagesl6, 17, and 18. It will be seen,

furthermore, that this equalization of flow is brought about without seriously impeding or retarding the flow-of grain through The bal'llesact, for the any one passage. most part, to change the direction o'f flow of grain and thereby to equalize the distance travelled by grain from each pipe rather ing passages for grain extending symmetrically th'erethrongh, of a steam pipe provided with branches entering. said drum at symmetrically spaced points, whereby to equalize steam flow and temperatures to which grain in said passagesis subject.-

2. Ina device of the character described, the combination with a heating drum having annular series of symmetrically spaced pipes extending therethrough, of battle means for equalizing flow through said pipes, and steam pipes communicating with said drum at a plurality of points symmetrically spaced, whereby to render substantially uniform the temperatures to which material in said pipes are subject in passii'ig there-- through. i r

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a heating drum having a plurality of conduits extending in axial direction therethrough and at a plurality of radial distances from the center thereof, of a receptacle associated with said drum and having a wall downwardly converging to an outlet-port, said conduits being adapted to discharge into said receptacle at dit fering distances from the wall thereof, and a set of battles supported within said receptacle in operative position to divert material issuing from selected conduits, the amount of battle-induced diversion being greater with respect to conduits comparatively remote from the wall of said receptacle than with respect to conduits adjacent said wall.

l. In a device of the character described, the combination with a heating drum having annular series of symmetrically spaced pipes extending therethrough, of battle means for equalizing flow through said pipes, and stem pipes communicatingwith said drum at a plurality of points symmetrically spaced, whereby to render substantially uniform the temperatures to which material in said pipes are subject in passing therethrough, said pipes comprising a main, and

branch of length.

5. In a device of the character described,

passages substantially equal the combination with a heating drum having annularseries of symmetricallyspaced pipesextending therethrough, of bafile means for equalizingflow: through 'saidpipes, and

steam pipes communicating: with said i drum at a plurality of points symmetrically and symmetrically spaced about the periphcry of said drum;

6. In .a' devicezofthes. character described, the: combination with a: heating drum-,1 oi concentric-iannular. series. of t'pipesxextendingthrough said drum, a funnel ishaped'rcceptaele position-ed beneathisaid drum and arranged to receive material issuing from: said pipes, and an annular'baille:disposed beneath the pipes of one of said seriesand adapted to retard theflow of material throughthe pipes of said" series, and a second batlle disposed interiorly of said first battle and having a downwardly and out-' 'ardly flaring portion, said last mentioned baille being adapted to divertimaterial from an additional series of said pipes.

7. In a device oft-he characterv described, the combination with a drum, of three annular series of pipes extending therethrough and a collecting-device associated with said drumanddisposedto receive materialissuing from said pipes, said collectin devicecomprisinga converging annular exterior wall, and a d'verging annular interior wall terminating in a circular periphery spaced from said exterior wall.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a drumyof three annular series of pipes extending therethrough and'a collecting device associated with said drum and disposed to receive material issuing from said pipes, said collecting device comprising a converging annular exterior wall, a diverging annular interior wall terminating in a circular periphery spaced from said exterior wall, and airinterinediate baffledisposed immed-iately beneath the intermediate series of pipes and comprising an annulus adapted to divert material issuing from said pipe.

9. In a-device of the character descril'ied, the combination with a drum, of three annular series of pipes extending therctlirough and a collecting device associatedwith said drum and disposed to receive material issuing from said pipes, said collecting device comprising a converging annular exterior wall, a diverging annular interior wall terminating in a circular space from said exterior wall, andanintermediate balllc disposed immediately beneath the intermediate series of pipes and comprising an annulus adapted to divert material issuing from said pipe, said annulus being oi triangular cross section with its apex uppermost, whereby to divert material "from said intermediate series of pipes both inwardly and outwardly.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with a heating drum, of three annular series of pipes extending therethrough, an annular wall conforming at its upper margin with the periphery of said drum and converging downwardly therefrom to an outlet port, a :lrustoconical wall positioned interiorly off said first mentioned wall and supported at a spaced interval therefrom, whereby to provide an annular passage, said passage being disposed substantially beneath the intermediate series of said pipes, and an. annular battle supported from said frusto-conical wall substantially above said passage and between said intermediate series of pipes and said passage, said walls and said battle being adapted to equalize resistance to flow through the pipes of each of said series.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination with a heating drum having a plurality of pipes extending there through at various radial distances from its center, oi. a detachable collecting device normally supported from said drum and comprising walls downwardly converging to a port, together with baflle plates supported from said walls and arranged to equalize substantially the distance of travel to said port of grain issuing from each of said pipes, whereby to equalize the flow of grain through said pipes.

12. In a device oi the character described, the combination with a heating drum having a plurality of annular series of pipes extending therethrough, of collecting means comprising downwardly converging walls positioned to receive material from said pipes and adapted to guide material from the outer and innermost of said series toward a circular port positioned substantially beneath an intermediate series, said walls being spaced to provide such a port, and battle means interposed between said intermediate series and said port, whereby to ol'istruct direct flow and substantially to equalize the distance of material travel be tween each of said pipes and said port.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination with a heating drum pro vided with a downwardly converging wall having a discharge port, of valve means controlling said port, and a tunnel-shaped receptacle positioned immediately beneath said port and adapted to receive material issuing therefrom, said receptacle being connected with a discharge pipe and. being spaced from said port, whereby to permit inspection of such material.

14. In a device of the character described, the combination with a heating drum, of a plurality of series of pipes extending through said drum and opening outwardly from the heads thereof, a supply conduit having a discharge portion peripherally corresponding with the upper head of said drum, a receptacle having downwardly converging walls and peripherally corresponding at its upper end with the lower head of said drum, a conical cap centrally disposed on the upper head of said drum and arranged to divert material entering through said conduit away from a plurality of pipes adjacent the center of said drum, and a vent pipe connected with said cap and in communication through the pipes covered by said cap with said receptacle.

15. In a device of the character described, the combination with a heating drum, of a plurality of series of pipes extending through said drum and opening outwardly from the beans thereof, a supply conduit having a discharge port-ion peripherally corresponding with the upper head of said drum, a receptacle having downwardly converging walls and peripherally corresponding at its upper end with the lower head of said drum, a conical cap centrally disposed on the upper head of said drum and arranged to divert material entering through said conduit away from a plurality of pipes adjacent the center of said drum, and a ventpipe connected with said cap and in com munication through the pipes covered by said cap with said receptacle, said vent pipe being controlled by a damper, whereby to regulate humidity in said receptacle.

16. In a device of the character described, a grain conduit provided with battles comprising transversely elongated vertically staggered and inwardly extending protuberances in its walls.

17. In a device of the character described, the combination with a plurality of rows of grain outlets, of battle means providing inclined paths of equal length to a common point from the outlets of each such row, and means for retarding grain flow from certain of said outlets proportionately to grain flow from others of said outlets.

18. In a device of the character described, the combination with a heating drum and grain conduits extending therethrough, of a receptacle adapted to receive grain from said conduits, and a member adjustable within said receptacle in the path of grain issuing from certain of said conduits and to and from a wall of said receptacle, whereby to restrict or enlarge the area for grain flow from certain of said conduits and to retard 0r accelerate the flow through said conduits with reference tofioivthrough others of said conduits.

19. In a device of the-character described, ihe combination with a plurality ofannular series of conduits and means for providing equal paths of delivery from radially adjacent conduits of the several series, of means for retarding flow at one side of said series with referenceio flow at the opposite side of said series, said means comprising a v grain passage adapted to receive grain from all of said conduits and having therein a GEORGE A. ROGKBURG. 

